2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k
43
Ranked Colleges
7,597
Degrees Awarded
$8,500
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
General Education is the 31st most popular major in the country with 29,810 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across California, there were 7,597 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 43 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank General Education Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $1,581 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on General Education at Stanford University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 129 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State LA also made our “Best General Education Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $2,701 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State LA.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Cal State LA
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 121 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno State also made our “Best General Education Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $4,655 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Fresno State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Education at Fresno State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 222 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA also made our “Best General Education Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $9,891 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at UCLA
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 45 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $9,999 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of California - Berkeley General Education Report
California State University - Bakersfield landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 136 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUB is $6,046 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full California State University - Bakersfield General Education Report
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 46 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Bernardino is $6,613 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at California State University - San Bernardino
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 255 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. It costs about $5,821 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read full report on General Education at Cal State Fullerton
California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a public institution located in Carson, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 141 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUDH is $3,329 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at California State University - Dominguez Hills
University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general education degrees to 127 students in 2020-2021.
UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,176 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on General Education at UCSD
California State University - Sacramento landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 145 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Sac State is $9,055 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Sac State
With a ranking of #12, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 368 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also made our “Best General Education Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $8,449 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Education at University of California - Irvine
California State University - Stanislaus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 105 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $4,903 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Stanislaus.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Stan State General Education Report
University of California - Riverside landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 195 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCR is $8,193 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UCR General Education Report
California State University - Long Beach landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 91 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $7,573 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Education at California State University - Long Beach
University of California - Davis landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general education degrees to 100 students in 2020-2021.
UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Davis is $11,598 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of California - Davis General Education Report
With a ranking of #17, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,274 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SDSU.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SDSU General Education Report
California State University - Northridge came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 33 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $7,103 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at California State University - Northridge
San Jose State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 233 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $13,378 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full San Jose State University General Education Report
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $12,992 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Education at Cal Poly Pomona
California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 43 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Marcos is $10,348 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CSUSM General Education Report
San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general education degrees to 128 students in 2020-2021.
SFSU also made our “Best General Education Schools in California” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco State University is $11,862 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SFSU General Education Report
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Seaside, California, and it awarded 68 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUMB is $10,711 for California General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at CSUMB
California State University - East Bay landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 25 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,025 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at California State University - East Bay
California State University - Channel Islands did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. CSUCI is a medium-sized public school situated in Camarillo, California. It awarded 17 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUCI is $13,125 for california general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at California State University - Channel Islands
